Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
| Saint Ambrose Barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral | |
 | |
| Artist | Anthony van Dyck  |
| Year | c. 1619–20 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 149 cm (59 in) × 113 cm (44 in) |
| Location | National Gallery |
| Accession No. | NG50 |
| Identifiers | RKDimages ID: 37078 Art UK artwork ID: the-emperor-theodosius-is-forbidden-by-saint-ambrose-to-enter-milan-cathedral-115572 |
Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral is a painting of c. 1619–20 by Anthony van Dyck in the National Gallery, London.
It draws heavily on a 1618 treatment of the same subject by Peter Paul Rubens, on which van Dyck had worked as a studio assistant. In van Dyck's version, Theodosius is beardless, the architectural background is more defined and a spear and a halberd are added on the left-hand side.
The painting depicts the Roman emperor Theodosius I and his entourage being barred from Milan Cathedral by its archbishop Saint Ambrose, as punishment for the Massacre of Thessalonica.
Sources
- National Gallery, St Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
Bibliography
- Gian Pietro Bellori, Vite de' pittori, scultori e architecti moderni, Torino, Einaudi, 1976.
- Didier Bodart, Van Dyck, Prato, Giunti, 1997.
- Christopher Brown, Van Dyck 1599–1641, Milano, RCS Libri, 1999.ISBN 8817860603
- Justus Müller Hofstede, Van Dyck, Milano, Rizzoli/Skira, 2004.
- Stefano Zuffi, Il Barocco, Verona, Mondadori, 2004.